News Summary
Park Place Technologies is set to launch an on-site childcare center at its headquarters in January 2026, addressing the critical childcare shortage for employees. The $1.7 million facility will initially accommodate 50 children, offering a 33% discount for employees. This initiative comes amid a labor shortage in Cleveland, with a concerted effort from local businesses to provide childcare solutions to improve employee retention and productivity.
CLEVELAND — Park Place Technologies will open an on-site childcare center at its headquarters on Alpha Drive in January 2026, addressing the critical childcare shortage faced by many employees as companies push for a return to physical office work. The facility aims to support parents in balancing work demands while simultaneously addressing the increasing concerns over talent retention and productivity impacts due to lack of reliable childcare.
The initiative comes amidst a labor shortage in the Cleveland area, where businesses, non-profits, and government entities are collaborating to find effective childcare solutions. The launch of the Midtown Child Care Fund in August was created to extend support for childcare benefits provided by private companies in Cleveland’s Midtown neighborhood, reflecting a regional commitment to tackling these challenges.
A recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago indicates a significant increase—nearly 20% from 2022 to 2024—in the percentage of working parents reporting absenteeism or reduced working hours due to childcare issues. Furthermore, a report from Early Matters NEO underscores the economic impacts of inadequate childcare, with Cuyahoga County businesses facing $121 million in lost productivity, local government tax revenue losses exceeding $114 million, and more than $411 million in lost earnings for parents.
In response to these pressing issues, Park Place Technologies is investing $1.7 million to construct a 7,400-square-foot childcare center on its $90 million campus, which has already opened. As part of its employee-focused approach, the center will first serve Park Place employees, offering a 33% discount on childcare services, with additional slots available for the public afterwards. Initially, the center will accommodate 50 children, with plans to double its capacity within five years. The center is expected to employ sixteen teachers in its first operational year.
Darlene Engoglia, the vice president of global human resources at Park Place, noted the critical importance of stable childcare for employee retention and attendance. A survey indicated that nearly 60% of Park Place employees support the establishment of an on-site childcare solution.
Cleveland-area businesses are increasingly recognizing the benefits of such childcare initiatives. For instance, King David Post Acute Nursing in Beachwood has maintained a childcare center for 38 years, achieving a 95% employee retention rate attributed to the center’s presence.
Additionally, Starting Point, a childcare referral agency based in Cleveland, initiated the Midtown Child Care Fund with a $1.9 million investment designed to assist employers in providing childcare benefits. The fund matches employer contributions to childcare expenses, establishing a median company contribution of $100/month. Local businesses, including Dave’s Market, are participating in this program, which aims to enroll ten or more businesses in its pilot phase, potentially supporting between 500 to 1,000 children through this initiative.
The establishment of Park Place’s childcare center is part of a larger trend toward providing on-site childcare solutions. Nationally, the percentage of companies offering such benefits has risen from 8.8% in 2020 to over 13% in 2023, according to data from Best Place for Working Parents. As Cleveland tackles its labor crisis through innovative strategies like on-site childcare, the broader implications for employee satisfaction and economic stability will be closely monitored.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s Cleveland: Businesses Are Investing in Childcare to Retain Talent
- Wikipedia: Childcare
- Community Impact: Capital Area Child Development Center
- Google Search: Childcare services
- Economic Policy Institute: The Child Care Crisis in the U.S. Economy
- Google Scholar: Childcare and Employment
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Care
- Google News: Childcare Innovations
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
